Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-01-27
An Interesting Episode I'm History-A
Story Told at a Reception Given by
Mrs. Fagnani, Widow of the Eminent
Portrait Painter.
IspecIal corrasnondeneo.i

possesses Jefferson's faculty for drawing peo-
pie out and learning from them all they have
to teach, and then she can read with the ra-
pidlty OF Macaulay, who used to run his eye
over the pages of a book or the columns OF a
newspaper, and seize out all that WAS good in
them Mrs. Crawford also shines in cony
sation, and her strong Irish accent and bril-
liant imagination led Gambetta to pronounce
her the Mime. de Stael of the Nineteenth
century. So Mrs. Crawford was surrounded
by many listeners tho other evening ut Mrs.
Fagnanfs reception, who; were repaid for
their attention by hearing such interesting
bits OF unpublished history as the following:
"This is the way the first meeting was
brought about between the Prince Of Wales
and Gambetta,n began Mrs. Crawford. Gin
the winter Of 1878, when the Paris worlds
exhibition was being prepared, Sir Cunliffe-
Owen, who represented England at Paris, as
be had two years before at tho Philadelphia
Centennial, came to mo one day and COM
planned of the rather unfriendly spirit shown
toward England by Senator Krantz, who was
the director general OF the exhibition then
organizing. Sir Philip asked me if Iwould
not use my influence with Gambetta, who
was even then the most powerful man in the
republic, and induce him to Bring such pres
sure to bear on Krantz hat the English OK.
hibitors would obtain fair play. When Sir
Philip had old me his story l replied as
follows: I am not surprised that French
republicans treat o and England With
GOODNESS, for Englishmen at home always
side with the McMahon party, which wishes
no good to the republic Now, IL the Prince
of Wales, who is In Paris at present, will
show Gambetta some attention, l will agree
to do what 1 can to accomplish what you ask3
After some further argument, Sir Philip
promised to lay the matter before the prince,
and the next day he returned to me and said
that his royal highness was quite ready to
make the acquaintance OF the2~ republican
leader, providing the meeting could take.
place later in the year. because OF some diplo-
matte negotiations then in train. / agreed,
saw Gambetta, told him Of Sir Philips COM
plant, and Immediately the English section
Of the exhibition met with all the considera-
ton that it could desire, $50 3
auMany weeks passed and I heard nothing
of the promised attentions OF the royal prince
TO, the democratic tribune. So one day / re-
minded Sir Philip OF our previous converse
ticn, and it was Immediately arranged that
the prince should invite Gambstta 10 break
fast, and I WAS requested to make known the
fact 60 the future guest. ] therefore called
on. Gambetta, and when I had given him my
message he threw himself back with intense
establishment and exclaimed: SIS Il possiblep
And then assuming an attitude that ras
habitual with him-crossing one leg under
him and looking over the back Of his chair
he continued: whats blow this will be TO
tho reactioaary party And now,aI put In,
my Journalistic duties taking possession Of
me, since / brought about the sending Of this
Invitation, may / ask a favorF Certainly
replied Gnmbetta. Well ] resumed, 4
should like to now all that is said during the
meal. will show you what l intend sending
to The Daily News, and you may modify my
report in any way you please Agreed
! said Gambetta as / rose to 60. AT this mo-
ment he took a portrait of himself which the
French workmen of Strasbourg had just pre-
sented to him, and said, rs he handed it to me:
Please accept this little gift l have this
portrait now hanging on my walls at home,
| aud on the back of 1t / Rave written out this
episode which I am now relating; SO that
whatever becomes of it after my death, it
will always be regarded as an interesting his
~torical relic. Sc. EEs sa4
Several days passed and I heard nothing
Of the breakfast. l began to fear that it had
fallen through. / feared that wind Of 1t had
got to the British legation, and thence to the
Elysee palace, and that the prince had been
restrained by reasons Of state from making
this advance toward the republican party ata
time when the French republic was in tho
| power OF monarchists, and many people be-
lieved that McMahon's successor would be a
king ter emperor. Sunday evening of the
week in which had seen Gamhetta I was
| CHANGING over the papers In q restaurant on
the Boulevard when l heard the newsboys
| crying in the streets: Breakfast OF the Prince
| OF Wales to Gambettap And / exclaimed to
myself: is this the way Gambetta keeps his
wordp Z was thunderstruck. Hastily TAX
ing a cab, I drove to the English embassy.
| and called for Lord Lyons private secretary.
who ! knew was to be of the party, and be
told me all that : wanted to know. It ap-
pears that the prince was delighted with
Gambetta, who was never In better spirits
than that day. He talked In his
most captivating manner, and the guests did
| not leave the table until late in the afternoon.
an engagement OF tho prince compelling him,
| to his regret, he said, to break up the enjoya-
BILE repast. / telegraphed that night this
| highly important information to London. IL
appeared the next morning in my paper, and
The Daily News was the only journal Of the
| English capital that contained q word about
this first meeting of Gambetta and the Prince
of Wales. / never asked Gambetta why no
had failed to keep bis promise, for l. had
beaten my rivals. Perhaps he considered
that the portrait made us quits, or, which Is
more probable. his multifarious occupations
doubtless drove all thought Of me from his
mind. However that may be, I haye always
felt proud Of the part l played in bringing
| together these W men, and thus dealing a
- H. - ~ -.
in France THEODORE STANTON.
Rest for Tired Horses.